Read two other short stories in Proulx's Close Range and write an essay comparing and contrasting the main themes.

Watch the film version of the story and prepare a classroom presentation using clips from the film that analyzes how the filmmaker translated the text to the screen.

Investigate the measures being taken to combat hate crimes against homosexuals. Write an essay discussing the measures and their effectiveness.

Write a short story or poem with the title If You Can't Fix It You've Got to Stand It that focuses on the subject of loss or on the internal dilemma one feels in enduring a situation which cannot be fixed.